Guaiacum Sanctum

Guaiacum sanctum, commonly known as Holywood or Holywood Lignum-vitae, is a species of flowering plant in the creosote bush family, Zygophyllaceae. It ranges from southern Florida in the United States and the Bahamas south to Central America and the Greater Antilles. It is threatened by habitat loss.

This tree is one of two species which yield the valuable Lignum vitae wood, the other being Guaiacum officinale. This small tree is slow growing, reaching about 7 m (23 ft) in height with a trunk diameter of 50 cm (20 in). The tree is essentially evergreen throughout most of its native range. The leaves are compound, 2.5–3 cm (0.98–1.2 in) in length, and 2 cm (0.79 in) wide. The purplish blue flowers have five petals each, and yield yellow pods containing black seeds encapsulated separately in a red skin.

Guaiacum sanctum is the national tree of the Bahamas.